Forum wants holidays for security operatives cancelled

Posted by admin Legislature, Senate Wednesday, June 6th, 2012

June 6, 2012 by Friday Olokor, Abuja 5 Comments

Senators Forum on Tuesday in Abuja advised security agencies and regulatory authorities in the aviation industry not to observe public holidays in case of emergencies and disasters.

The group also asked the National Assembly to conduct a public hearing and investigation into the Dana plane crash and the activities of airlines in the country.

Chairman of the Forum, Mrs. Khairat Abdulrasaq-Gwadabe, said this while commiserating with a former member of the Senate between 1999 and 2003, Danladi Bamaiyi (Kebbi South) whose son, Bello, was among the victims of the Dana plane crash.

The group asked the regulatory agencies in the aviation sector to be alive to their responsibilities, especially rendering their services during the public holidays and weekends.

Abdulrasaq-Gwadabe said, “We are happy so far with the performance of the Minister of Aviation. But one tree cannot make a forest. This accident has brought the shortcomings of the aviation industry to light.

“We are calling on her to re-engineer the aviation sector because there are lapses. When you study the statistics of the accidents of the past, we have noticed that 13 of these accidents occurred during public holidays and at the weekends.

“That goes to show that the regulatory agencies and other relevant security agencies that are supposed to be on ground for the smooth running of airlines have lapses in their duties.

“It is very important to call on them that their services are needed 24 hours daily. There are no public holidays for such work because human lives are at stake. They have to ensure that they have due diligence at work.

“We are calling on the President and the National Assembly leadership to ensure that we have a thorough investigation, and public hearing to ensure that we get to the bottom of this.

“All reports from these findings should be executed fully; I am sure that the calibre of the Minister of Aviation we have is somebody we have confidence in; she would make sure that justice is done.

“No airline should put the economic interest before human life. That would not be tolerated in Nigeria any more. It is about time we became to look after one another. We should be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.

She asked the aviation Ministry to re-engineer the sector with a view of making it more result oriented.

While commending the people of Lagos state for their concern and sympathy expressed to the victims and their relations Abdulrasaq-Gwadabe however cautioned those using the social media to publish some unpleasant pictures from the scene to desist from such.

-Punch

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